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Warning-pictures of an unpleasant looking skin reaction are contained in this post, and they all show my flabby skin :P Feel free to skip if you want.

I’m finding that one of the harder parts of undergoing fertility treatments and being pregnant is that it’s hard to determine what’s normal and goes with the territory, and what is cause for concern and a call to do the doctor. How much and what kind of pain or discomfort is good and normal, and what is cause for alarm? How much barfing is too much? How much bleeding is normal, and how much is trouble?

If you have a doctor, you definitely want to utilize his or her services, but if you’re like me, you also don’t want to be THAT mom who calls over every little thing. I want to know when I just need to take my lumps, and do so as graciously as I can.

Such was my dilemma with a reaction I was developing at the site of my progesterone injections. I had a similar, more mild reaction last time I was on it, but they assumed it was the oil I was allergic too. So they changed to a formulation that used alcohol instead of oil.

However, I’ve had the reaction again, and it’s much stronger this time. There must be something in the progesterone itself that I can’t tolerate. I’m posting this for other women who have these shots and may wonder if what they’re seeing is normal.

The pictures are poor quality and my camera wouldn’t focus or really show much without the flash, but with the flash it blurred everything out, so I drew little lines around the bumps.

These are on both hips. The black dots are where my nurse friend drew for us so we’d know where we could inject.

Note: My skin is not that sallow nor that pink so that is not part of the reaction–it’s just bad photography.

What I have are bright red and itchy bumps–they’re not like bruises. They’re also not particularly hard, like knots. The best way I can describe them is like bug bites–hot and puffy and itchy and sort of soft. And they don’t seem to be going away. The side with the solid big one hasn’t been injected since last Thursday. I’m also starting to notice itchy bumps on my arms, legs, and feet.

Knots, light bruising, and soreness ARE normal around injection sites. Oil is very thick and doesn’t absorb well into your system. Ethel oleate is a little easier, but still tough. Don’t worry-the progesterone gets to where it needs to go, but it just ditches its delivery mechanism behind to bother you. You can avoid a lot of the knots and bruising by making sure you heat your vial with body heat (put it down in your bra for about half an hour) prior to drawing the medication, having your hubby massage the area HARD after injection to break up the oil, and then using a heating pad to keep it warm and thin after he’s done massaging. Also, alternate sides, and when you have to go back on the same side, get as far away from your previous injection spot as possible while still staying in the safe injection area. If you have trouble seeing where your previous spot was, mark it with a sharpie after you get the shot. Some residual soreness is just inevitable–you’re poking holes in yourself every day!

I tolerated them for more than a week, because at first they started as small bumps and were few in number, and I thought they might be bug bites. But when I saw last night that that one side had become one large “mass” of a bump, I took the pictures and emailed them to my doctor’s office.

The response I got was:

STOP the PROGESTERONE INJECTIONS NOW!!!!!! If you continue to do the injections you could do serious harm to your skin and the tissue underneath.

And then the nurse called me to make sure that I got the message and immediately discontinued further injections. I asked her if it was something we were doing wrong with how we were injecting and she said that no, it had nothing to do with the technique and everything to do with the medication.

So the answer to this particular question is that this is NOT normal. If you get a reaction like that, immediately call your doctor before taking further doses. You may in fact be allergic to the oil it’s in (in which case there are lots of alternatives) but you may instead have a problem with the medication itself so just monitor yourself carefully.

When in doubt, always call your doctor. You know your body best. As much as I worry about being one of “those” patients, at the end of the day, you’re paying for their services and expertise, so if you’re concerned, call! They’re there to be a resource to you, so utilize them. I’m so glad that I did!

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8 Responses to “Progesterone Injection Reaction-Not Normal”

Interesting! I’m glad you called your doctor – your descirption here is very different than I read on your other post…it sounds like what I had the first time AFTER I came off of the progesterone. I had lumps and bumps the second time that looked a little like that, but not red puffy itchy bug bite type stuff. Glad they got back to you so quickly!

I had the EXACT same reaction to the PIO. I was already with my OB and I called the on call doc and he told me to keep taking it. I called my OB the next day to double check and he had me come in immediately and told me to stop taking it. He was sure that I was allergic but was also afraid that I had developed a staph infection as well. I had hoped that it was the oil, not the progesterone, but it sounds like it might be the progesterone itself for me as well.

What will you be taking now? Or for further FETs if you do them? Originally I was on suppositories and it got me pregnant, but after bleeding at 8 weeks they switched me to PIO. Now I wonder what my options will be next time.

Jessica-I can take prometrium (which is a capsule that you can take orally or vaginally) and crinone (vaginal cream) both without much problem. Right now I’m taking crinone exclusively. I don’t know what they’ll do with future transfers.

I have learned to call even when you think your nuts. At least you get the reassurance that nothing is wrong and the doctors are used to crazy pregnant women who are over anxious. And, if there is something wrong, you get the attention you need immediately.

I had that reaction to 3 different PIOs over the years (peanut, cotton and sesame seed oils), but didn’t have it with the ethyl oleate. I’m glad you called because they told me the same thing when I called each time. The first time was the worst because I let it go the entire TWW – after that, as soon as the reaction started I’d call and they’d switch me to suppositories. Congrats on today’s good u/s!

Praise God for the great things He has done, is doing, and will do! Jen, I misunderstood. I am so blessed in hearing you have a child growing. I was under the impression that you were grieving the loss of all chances for this pregnancy. Blessings and mercies for you and your family. Lord, hear our pleas for Your wonderful protection and the progress of this child. Amen

Our History

09/2000: Start dating. In our courtship we talk that we want a large family, built through both traditional methods and adoption.
08/2002: Engaged!
6/28/03: Married!
01/2004: Start TTC
10/2005: Diagnosed with PCOS
01/2006: Surgery to remove ovarian cyst. We're sure things will work now!
11/2007: DH Diagnosed with azoospermia
12/2007: DH diagnosed with Klinefelter's
02/2008: Officially begin pursuing Embryo Adoption
04/2008: Homestudy Completed
07/2008: Matched with 12 Embryos
11/3/2008: First Transfer with two embryos, resulting in BFP, good betas
11/22/2008: Miscarriage
12/08-12/09: Take time off for weight loss, and to find a new doctor
12/3/2009: Transfer with two embryos=failed
05/17/2010: Third transfer, with two embryos
05/24/2010: Find out we're pregnant!
06/09/2010: First ultrasound and see one heartbeat!
06/16/2010: Second ultrasound-still looking good!
06/21/2010: Third ultrasound-and we HEAR the heartbeat!
02/03/2011: Estimated Due Date

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